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±«Óãtvallup hosts 2022 Sovereignty Run pit stop

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October 12, 2022 - The University of New Mexico-Gallup hosted a pit stop for the 2022 Sovereignty Run on campus Wednesday.

The Sovereignty Run is a cross-country run organized by the National Congress of American Indians and Bright Path Strong.

The run calls attention to the erosion of tribal sovereignty on reservation lands, including raising awareness of the new attacks on tribal sovereignty in the face of the Supreme Court decision in Castro-Huerta. The run also pays homage to Native Olympian Jim Thorpe.

During the Sovereignty Run, a 25-foot totem pole created by the House of Tears Carvers of Lummi Nation is traveling alongside runners symbolic of honoring, uniting and empowering communities to protect sacred places, cultures and tribal sovereignty along the way.

The run kicked off Oct. 3 on the Cherokee Nation and is expected to end in Sacramento, California, Oct. 31.

±«Óãtvallup was honored to host this event, especially because it happened only two days after Indigenous Peoples’ Day.

±«Óãtvallup serves a predominantly Native American population and acknowledges that the branch campus sits on the traditional homelands of the Pueblo of Zuni and Navajo Nation.

Since time immemorial, the original peoples of New Mexico maintained deep connections to the land and made significant contributions to the broader community statewide. We honor the land itself and those who remain stewards of this land throughout the generations and also acknowledge our committed relationship to Indigenous peoples.

We thankfully recognize our history, strive to build robust relationships with sovereign Native Nations and Indigenous peoples, and commit to maintain a diverse and inclusive environment with respect, understanding and appreciation of all.

For more information about the Sovereignty Run, please visit the National Congress of American Indians website: .

If you or your organization are interested in having an event on the ±«Óãtvallup campus, please visit our Facilities page for information on how to submit a request for facility usage: /facilities/.

See photo slideshow of the Sovereignty Run pit stop below (click on the right or left arrow to view the next photo):